The negro stands in an upright posture when gathering the berry, and is protected by the tree itself against the great heat of the sun.

The only danger he incurs is of being bitten by some venomous snake or other--an accident, however, which, fortunately, rarely happens.
The work on a sugar-plantation, on the contrary, is said to be exceedingly laborious, particularly that portion of it which relates to weeding the ground and cutting the cane.

I have never yet witnessed a sugar-harvest, but, perhaps, may do so in the course of my travels.
All work ceases at sunset, when the negroes are drawn up in front of their master's house for the purpose of being counted, and then, after a short prayer, have their supper, consisting of boiled beans, bacon, carna secca, and manioc flour, handed out to them.
At sunrise, they again assemble, are once more counted, and, after prayers and breakfast, go to work.
I had an opportunity of convincing myself in this, as well as in many other fazendas, vendas, and private houses, that the slaves are by far not so harshly treated as we Europeans imagine.

They are not overworked, perform all their duties very leisurely, and are well kept.

Their children are frequently the playmates of their master's children, and knock each other about as if they were all equal.
There may be cases in which certain slaves are cruelly and undeservedly punished; but do not the like instances of injustice occur in Europe also?
I am certainly very much opposed to slavery, and should greet its abolition with the greatest delight, but, despite this, I again affirm that the negro slave enjoys, under the protection of the law, a better lot than the free fellah of Egypt, or many peasants in Europe, who still groan under the right of soccage.